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Lions change it up for Cheetahs

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions made three changes to their starting line-up for the Currie Cup match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

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Veteran World Cup-winning Springbok Jannie du Plessis, Dan Kriel and André Warner are all in the run-on XV.

Kriel replaces an injured Burger Odendaal, who is struggling with a strained right calf.

The other changes are based on rotation.

Four players from the starting line-up were in action against the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup Final in Bloemfontein last year.

They are Dylan Smith, Marvin Orie, Wandisile Simelane and Stean Pienaar.

Jan-Henning Campher, Wilhelm van der Sluys and Len Massyn were on the bench on that day.

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Manuel Rass moves onto the bench for this encounter.

Wiehahn Herbst and Sibahle Maxwane will travel with as back-up.

The Lions travel to Bloemfontein on Thursday afternoon and will have their captains run in the city of roses on Friday.

Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 André Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Willem Alberts, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sithembiso Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Manuel Rass, 23 Roelof Smit.

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Date: Saturday, December 16
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 16.30 (14.30 GMT)
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs and Griffon Colby
TMO: Jaco Peyper

Lions team for Cheetahs

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